FOLLOWING a report on Martin Price in this week's Info Freako (August 7), can you please tell me what has happened to A GUY CALLED GERALD, who started out with 808 State before launching his solo career with the brilliant 'Voodoo Ray'? He later put out an LP, "Automanikk", on Sony, but I've heard nothing about him for a good couple of years now.

OZ MAN, London NW10

A GUY Called Gerald left Sony back in 1991, in the wake of the record company's refusal to release "High Life, No Profile" which had been recorded as the follow-up album to "Automanikk". According to Gerald, the label didn't like the fact that "High Life" was more song-orientated that his earlier material. The record remains the property of Sony and is unlikely to ever leave their vaults.

Gerald has not, however, stopped making records. Far from it. Believe it or not, during the last 18 months or so he has released no less than 10 12-inch singles, two under the name Ricky Rouge, on his own Juicebox label. "Cops" and 'The Musical Magical Midi Machine" (JBOX 004 and JBOX 005, respectively) are particularly recommended. In addition, just a few weeks ago, he put out an album called "28 Gun Bad Boy" (LP/CD, JBOX 12/CD). All of these records are distributed by Deltra.

"The Ricky Rouge tunes are Garage House, but the rest of my stuff is now Jungle Techno," says Gerald. "To be honest, I'm having a great time. I have my own 32-track studio and I'm bashing out tracks as and when I please. I love the idea of being independent. I only wish I could do it all myself. Let me know if you hear of anybody selling a record pressing plant."

[Author: PUSH]